DaVita New Grad questions

[pmabraham, BSN, RN]

Good day:

I just interviewed with DaVita in the Lancaster County, PA area; and, they shared the track for brand new graduate RN's (Jesus willing, I graduate this coming December 13th). They shared that if they offered a job, I would first start off as a patient care technician (PCT) within a week of graduating, and remain a PCT until I passed my boards. Then they would transfer me as a RN in orientation with a max patient load of four (4) patients for up to a year. After that, I would become a charge RN where I would be the only RN in the facility.

Have any of you gone through this type of process with DaVita where you started off as a PCT between graduating RN school and passing your boards? If yes, how smoothly did it go being quickly transferred to the RN title, salary, and benefits? Do you have any advice to share?

Would you recommend that a condition of acceptance to any offer include in writing that they will transfer me to the RN title, pay, benefits, etc. upon passing my boards?

Any other thoughts, ideas, questions, etc?

Thank you.

[pmabraham, BSN, RN]

Anyone with experience dealing with DaVita?

[Chisca, RN]

Get it in writing.

[Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B]

I just started in Harrisburg. It is my impression that in general all staff at my center are worked to the extent of their training and abilities based on the needs of the center. Our RNs usually charge, if we are short they help out. If we are really short they get scheduled as techs, the staff RNs, the clinical manger RN, even our administrator pulled time on "tech duty" up to and including 12 hour shifts as techs.

once your an RN they can't call you anything but an RN, and I'm sure your pay will increase, however the job may, or may not change a lot at first depending on the needs of the center.

[nurseontheway]

I don't work for Davita but I strongly encourage you to get everything in writing. Like they tell us in school, if it isn't written, it isn't done. I think that you will get good training at Davita. It is important to work as a PCT initially to learn about the machines etc. and get comfortable on the floor. As a charge nurse you need to know how to initiate/terminate treatments, troubleshoot machine issues etc. I worked on the floor for almost seven months before I started charge training. If you have any questions about dialysis please feel free to reach out. Good luck!

[GeauxNursing]

Depends on management. My clinic hired a new RN, new to dialysis. She was in a bay for a year before they started training her as a floor nurse. She was a PCT for all intents and purposes. Paid as RN, but still. She wasnt hired to be a pct for a year. I would have left.

[GeauxNursing]

She was kept there so long because the clinic was short on pcts. Its a shame. She had to go to the regional director to get her training started.